Juba — ELDERS from Acholi yesterday morning held a closed meeting with the LRA delegation in Juba. The meeting, chaired by the chief mediator at the peace talks, Southern Sudan Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar at Juba Raha hotel, stretched from 9:00am to 12:42pm.

Meanwhile, the leader of the government delegation, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, has refuted press reports that he stormed out of the peace talks conference room in protest of ceasefire terms tabled by the LRA.

"We have not walked out. We have not even contemplated to do so. We are determined to stay at the talks until a peaceful conclusion and comprehensive peace agreement has been signed," Rugunda told the New Vision yesterday.

Acholi paramount chief Rwot Achana Onen led the Acholi elders who included George William Lugai, Francis Oryang Lagony, Leo Obonyo and Michael Otim.

Others were Archbishop John Baptist Odama, Mgr. Matthew Odong, Sheikh Musa Khalil and Fr. Julius Orach.

Elders from Sudan areas bordering Acholi and west Nile also attended. It was not possible to have their individual identities.

A source said the meeting "was meant for them (LRA) to hear certain things from the grassroots themselves and the bitterness of the people of Southern Sudan."

Achana said, "My message was given on my day of arrival and it remains the same; forgiveness and reconciliation should be the driving force."

Odama declined to comment on what transpired in the meeting. "We are under instruction not to talk. The chair (mediator) speaks for us. If I was at liberty, I would have had a lot to say."

Odong could only say, "so far, so good."

Uganda's team was by press time also meeting the elders and religious leaders.

Sources said there was a trabalistic clash at the meeting as the Lolubu accused the Acholi of southern Sudan of conspiracy and aiding the LRA rebels.